Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1706, 1827-1846, 1914
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†FEIR, n. Also fear, fere, fier.
1. Array, bearing, in hist. phr. in feir of weir, in warlike array. See Effeir. Sometimes of other equipment, e.g. that of a ploughman (Fif. c.1850 R. Peattie MS.).Sc. 1706 Acts Parl. Scot. XI. 343:
Marching in formed bodies arm'd through the Country and entering into our Royal Burghs boden in fear of weir.Arg. 1914 N. Munro New Road vi.:
One of them at least in fier of war with a target on his back and a leather coat.
2. A band, host, following. Used only by Tennant to whom The Muckomachy is gen. ascribed.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 25:
Thron'd gloriously amid his feir O' fellow-bousers braw.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 167:
What day our guid king Robert Bruce, Wi' a' his feir o' Courtiers crouse.Sc. 1846 Anon. Muckomachy 10:
Bauld Spinola, the Spanish Duke, Wi' a' his mighty fere o' men.
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"Feir n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/feir>
